People's Power League Fighting Corporate Control of Montana Government Since June 11, 1911

DEFEND THE OPEN PRIMARY AND WIN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR

For 102 years, Montana voters have nominated candidates in an
Open Primary. They've chosen candidates for U.S.
Senate and House of Representative, governor and other state offices, continuing down the ballot to local
and party officials. During that time, corporate interests often
tried to get rid of the Open Primary and return to the absolute control
they had over Montana Government. With each attack, Montana voters
blocked their plans.

It all started in 1912 when a small group of determined citizens
(see the Membership tab above) put the Open Primary Initiative on the ballot. Even with overwhelming
corporate opposition, the initiative passed with 78% of the vote.

In 1919, U.S. Senator Joseph Dixon, a
Republican, was out of office and back in Missoula publishing the Missoulian. He
was well-placed to block all attempts of the Anaconda Company to dismantle the Open
Primary. His efforts were so appreciated by the voters, they elected him
Governor in the greatest landslide victory ever recorded in the
state. His coat-tails carried Republicans into every national and
statewide office. In addition, Republicans won 76% of the State
Senate seats and 91% of those in the State House.

Republicans are known for their memories so fast-forward to the 1985 legislature. Republican State Representatives stood up against Democrats who wanted to close
the Open Presidential Preference Primary. It was a fierce legislative battle. Democrats lost in more ways than
one. Voters elected Republican Governors for 16 years -- Stan Stevens,
Marc Racicot, and Judy Martz.

But wait, Republicans have at times forgotten
how voters will attack the party that tampers with the primary. in 1964, Republicans raided or
crossed over to elect a weak Democratic candidate for governor and
give Gov. Tim Babcock an free ride in November. 20% of
the voters crossed over but they failed. Who succeeded were
the Montanans who in 1968 started a 20-year run of Democrat
governors. They also wrote a new constitution that included a
Right to Privacy which gives unique protection to an Open Primary.

In 2015, Montanans were again fighting about the
Open Primary. The right-wing Republicans want to close the open primary or get rid of
it all together. Republican's who know their history, Attorney General Tim Fox and State
Representative Steve Fitzpatrick, are countering the attempt.

The penalty for trying to end the Open Primary
may affect Republicans as it did Democrats in 1985. But
now the result would be a Democratic Governor in 2016, 2020, 2024,
and even 2028.

For more details click on the date below:

1919: The Montana Legislature tried three times to end the open primary in 1919 but failed. One time involved the Montana Supreme Court.

1924: The legislature humbly put a
referendum on the ballot that would end only the Open Presidential
Preference Primary. Voters, by a narrow margin, agreed.
Having made peace with the Democrats, voters
returned them to the governor's office for the next 16 years.

1954:
Republicans went to the voters to restore the Open Presidential
Preference Primary and were rewarded with the Governor’s office
for the next 16 years. But, the
Republican Party
experimented with statewide crossover voting in the primaries.
When voters found out, they put Democrats back in the governor’s office for
the next 20
years.

1985: Once
more Democrats tried to close the Open Presidential Preference
Primary based on a U.S. Supreme Court ruling about Freedom to
Associate. The Republicans fought them to a stand still.
Republicans
were rewarded with control of
the governor’s office for the next 16 years.

2016: Will the Republican Party
suffer the same fate for attempting to close the Open Primary? Will they lock themselves out of the governor’s office into the foreseeable future?
Or, will they find that closing the primary is not really their cup of tea?
Freedom of Association also allows Republicans to
be inclusive and reject being
exclusive.

Check the facts in the full report on the history of the Open Primary. The story is inspiring and even entertaining.
It's a long
story -- interwoven with 102 years of political history in Montana.

Click on the dates in the timeline to go directly to the material
you find most interesting. But, don't miss the conclusion. History
is cycling again and Matthew Monforton may
regret leaping before he has looked into Montana's history.

The poster above was published in the Montana
Nonpartisan, a Great Falls newspaper. It appeared during
the 1919 fight to stop any legislation designed to end the Open
Primary.

1964 Primary Election Tuesday, June 2 --Interest Not
Great Despite Party Races

The battle for gubernatorial
nomination on the Democratic ticket is probably the state's most
interesting (race). What would probably be a sure bet for Roland Renne
in most states could become extremely complicated in the Montana
Primary. Most concede if Democrats were the only ones to vote in
their primary, Renne would have no difficulty. Montana, however,
does not require party voter registration and voters may cast
their ballots in either party's primary so long as they cast all
their votes for one party. Despite admonitions against it from
officials of both parties, a large Republican crossover is
expected to make Mike Kuchera, Billings polka band furniture
dealer, a dangerous contender for the Democratic nomination.

Choteau Acantha, May 28, 1964
Vol. 71, No. 4, p. 1 by Bob Amick

Republican Crossover is Evident
in Teton County Primary PollingBob Amick

Analysis of the unofficial Teton county election returns
revealed
voters reacted as was expected in at least two instances. First,
a
fair number of Republicans switched parties for the primary in
an attempt to put Mike Kuchera up against Gov. Tim Babcock in
the Nov. 3 general election. Second, Democrats turned out in
larger numbers to cast their ballots. Teton County Democrats,
for the primary at least, followed through with enthusiasm
generated at a party rally in Fairfield a few weeks ago and
turned out in strength.

Choteau Acantha, June 4, 1964
Vol. 71, No. 5, p. 1 by Bob Amick

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

Ravalli County Republican Central Committee, and nine others
was joined by the Montana Republican Party to sue the Secretary
of State and end Montana's "Open Primary." The case was
assigned to the Honorable Brian Morris September 2014.

The question:When the state requires the
Republican Party to choose its candidates in an "Open Primary"
is its first amendment right of association violated?

The
Republican Party
wants a "Closed Primary" along with lists of registered
Republican voters provided at state expense.

For over 100 years, the Republicans advocated the use of an
Open Primary in Montana. In fact, the MTGOP has historically been a stronger advocate of the
"Open
Primary" than the Democratic Party.